Tag: Faith

Bible Studies

“If I Can?” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 9:9-29 NLT – As they went back down the mountain, he – Bible Gateway

‘“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’” Mark 9:23 NLT

Last week on Biblical Insights Peter, James, and John had an incredible experience seeing Jesus transfigured in front of them with Moses and Elijah talking with Him. They couldn’t wait to get back and tell everyone, but wait, they couldn’t. Jesus told them they weren’t to tell anyone what they saw until He was raised from the dead, which raised more questions from the inquisitive three. They were asking each other what Jesus meant by raising from the dead. Their minds couldn’t accept a suffering dying Messiah.

They did, however, ask Jesus a question on the way down from the mountain. “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?” (Mk.9:11 nlt) Perhaps seeing Elijah speaking with Jesus prompted this question. Jesus answered that Elijah would indeed come first to set things in order, and in fact Elijah had already come. Jesus confirms that His cousin John the Baptist is the Elijah figure that would come before the Messiah preaching repentance which he paid a price for. Jesus said, “But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.” (Mk.9:13 nlt)

When Jesus, Peter, James, and John returned to the rest of the disciples there was a large crowd that gathered to watch the dispute between the disciples and the religious teachers. “When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.” (Mk.9:15 nlt) The arguing between the disciples and the teachers stemmed from the fact the disciples couldn’t cast out a demon from a demon possessed boy. Jesus asked what all the arguing was about. A man spoke out, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk.” (Mk.9:17 nlt) Jesus wasn’t there when the man came so he then asked the disciples to do it, but they were not able to cast out the evil spirit. This led to an argument with the religious teachers who were obviously gloating over the fact the disciples failed.

Jesus’ reaction here may seem uncharacteristic for the Son of God, but it is in the very character of God who condemns our lack of faith. “Jesus said to them, ‘You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’” (Mk.9:19 nlt) Jesus’ criticism was not only against the father and the disciples but also against the religious teachers and unbelieving people in general.

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“So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.” (Mk.9:20 nlt) Jesus asked the boy’s father how long this was happening to him. The man replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” (Mk.9:21-22 nlt) We may wonder what is meant being thrown into a fire. Open fires were commonplace in first century Palestine. Throwing the boy into water needs no explanation. Notice the evil nature of this demon. This was a violent evil spirit. A violent convulsion can be explained as if tearing the boy apart. The father asked for mercy by healing his son if He can.

The father’s reply to Jesus sparked a serious question from the Lord. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’? Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mk.9: 23 nlt) The question was not if He could heal his son, Jesus has proven that many times over. The question is: did the father have faith to believe it. This is a question we all need to ask ourselves on occasion. Do we have faith to believe that the Lord will take care of us through all our circumstances. We may be just like the father who then said to Jesus, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mk.9:24 nlt) Sometimes we are all like this father, we can’t deal with our own unbelief. It’s OK. Ask Him to help you. Belief and unbelief often get mixed at the same time. Jesus emphasized faith here for those who needed an increase of their faith in Him. It is important to remember Jesus healed many people who had shown little or no faith in Him at all. Our healing has nothing to do with our faith, but our faith in God who is able to heal us according to His will.

Jesus rebuked the demon and commanded it to come out of the boy. “Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him.” (Mk. 9:26 nlt) Jesus’ power forced the demon to cry out. It knew of His spiritual power against demons in the supernatural world, and it left the scene.

Later that day, the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast out the evil spirit. Jesus’ reply was, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” (Mk.9:29 nlt) Two notable points are here. The first is there are demons and evil spirits that are more violent and dangerous than others. The second and more important one is the disciples’ lack of prayer. It is amazing to think the disciples could not cast out that demon when Jesus gave the power to do so. They failed to remember their power came from Jesus and not from within themselves. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary sums it up this way for the disciples and us, “Unbelief and prayerlessness are sure to result in spiritual impotency.” May we never hear the Lord say to us, ‘If I Can?’

Devotionals

Bottomless Grace 

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Kings 17:8-16 NLT – The Widow at Zarephath – Then the LORD – Bible Gateway

“There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:16 NLT

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I enjoy going to a restaurant that serves a bottomless cup of coffee. You never worry if that second cup is coming or will I have enough coffee to finish my meal. There is a story in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings that tells of a poor widow who had a bottomless cup of grace given to her for her faith and obedience to God.

The prophet Elijah predicted there would be no rain for the next couple of years until Elijah spoke it. No rain led to a famine that devastated all of Israel. Elijah wasn’t exempt from feeling the effects of the famine. The Lord did provide for him in miraculous ways, one of them through this poor widow. Elijah was told to go to the town of Zarephath north of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea where he would meet a woman who would feed him. He met her, but she only had enough for one last meal for her and her son and after that she expected they would die. But God told Elijah that she would feed him.

When the woman told Elijah of her dilemma he responded in a way to test her faith as she revealed an awareness of the Lord God Elijah serves. “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1Kg.17:13-14 nlt) The woman would have a bottomless flour and olive oil supply.

She obeyed the word of the Lord and was given bottomless grace for the daily provisions as long as the drought and famine continued. Perhaps you’re facing a dry spell in your life on this day. Maybe you’re in the middle of a spiritual drought. Perhaps the Lord is testing you to step out in faith and help someone at your own expense as the poor widow. She obeyed the Lord and her needs were met. Why not do the same and receive a bottomless cup of grace from the Lord. It’s much better than a bottomless cup of coffee.

Bible Studies

“Jesus Walks on Water” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 6:45-52 NLT – Jesus Walks on Water – Immediately – Bible Gateway

“Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.” Mark 6:47-48 NLT

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If you have just witnessed Jesus’ feed 20,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, would you be amazed if you then saw Him walking on the water hours later? His disciples were. Now before we criticize the disciples, let’s jump in their sandals on their boat and experience the ride. Jesus tells them to go ahead of Him to Bethsaida planning to meet them there later. As they set sail, another windstorm developed as is common on the Sea of Galilee. A short trip is now 9 hours old and instead of hugging the coast along the northern end of the sea, they are being driven farther out into the middle. And then they think they have seen a ghost!

We start this week after Jesus’ miracle of feeding the multitude. He insisted His disciples leave for Bethsaida ordering them into the boat. He would then send the people away and head up to the hills to spend time with His Father in prayer. Jesus being a miracle worker and the Son of God in the flesh still needed a time to rejuvenate physically and spiritually with His Father. How much more do we need it and yet neglect to do it. Jesus needed this time alone in prayer and the top of those hills was a perfect setting for it. The eastern side of the Sea of Galilee was a mountainous region with slopes leading up to a plateau. It was a good place to be alone and away from the crowd. Jesus would also have a good view of His disciples crossing the sea.

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Jesus saw the disciples were in serious trouble as the winds were pushing them out into the middle of the sea. The Bible says Jesus went out to them during the fourth watch of the night which is somewhere between 3am-6am. We may question why Jesus waited so long. Matthew Henry offers this comment, “If Christ’s visits to his people be deferred long, yet at length he will come; and their extremity is his opportunity to appear for them so much the more seasonably.” The time spent with His Father was important and Jesus wasn’t about to forget His disciples. He did go out to them walking on the water. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Jesus would be able to perform this feat. He is the Lord of the Sea. Paul writes in the book of Colossians, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.” (1:15-16 nlt)

As Jesus got closer to them, they became frighten and thought they were seeing a ghost.  Jewish superstition said appearance of spirits during the night would bring disaster. The disciples should not have been swayed by a superstition, but how would we react in the darkest part of the night if we saw someone walking on the water in a windstorm. And Jesus was not only walking on the water but at a steady pace not affected by the wind. The Bible says He was walking on the water as if He intended to go pass them. Jesus was testing their faith to see if they would recognize Him and His miraculous powers and overcome their fear and invite Him into their boat. “But Jesus spoke to them at once. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage! I am here!’” (Mk.6:50 nlt)

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When Jesus entered the boat without saying a word the fierce winds stopped. The disciples were amazed. Were they more amazed that the winds suddenly stopped or that they had just witnessed Jesus’ walking on the water? As this point, we don’t know, but we do know the disciples’ hearts were still not sensitive to who Jesus is. They weren’t grasping all that Jesus was doing and showing them. The disciples were fascinated by His miracles but couldn’t put two and two together. The world is amazed by any attesting miracles they see today by the hand of God. They may say, ‘it is a miracle’ or ‘only by God’ but there is no real understanding of who the true God is. The true God is the creator of heaven and earth. He formed us out of the dust of ground and gave us life. He provided a way of forgiveness for sinning against Him. Jesus Christ, the holy one of God, came to earth to die in our place for the punishment of sin providing the way of salvation to all who believe. Jesus also walked on water. Don’t be amazed. Understand who Jesus is with the help of the Holy Spirit and accept Him as your savior.

Bible Studies

“Rejected by those who knew Him best” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 6:1-13 NLT – Jesus Rejected at Nazareth – Jesus left – Bible Gateway

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” Mark 6:4 NLT

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There have been many hometown heroes throughout the centuries. Famous artists have painted their priceless artwork in familiar surroundings of their neighborhood. Renown composers from Bach and Beethoven to Lennon and McCartney started composing the world’s masterpieces in their small rustic villages and small towns. Many Presidents and foreign leaders have been memorialized in their hometowns. People from all walks of life who made a name for themselves have been recognized and hailed in their communities as achieving great success. Not so with Jesus of Nazareth. He was rejected by those who knew Him best.

Last week in our Biblical Insights in the book of Mark, Jesus was back in Capernaum where He performed two miracles. After raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead, “Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.” (Mk.6:1 nlt) Jesus was about to begin His third and final tour through the Galilean region. He returns to His hometown of Nazareth 20 miles southwest of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee. This is not a planned family visit but a preaching ministry event. It is the start of Jesus’ and the disciples preaching tour through Galilee.

As was Jesus’ custom, He observed the Sabbath by attending worship services in the local synagogue. While there Jesus began to teach, and the on-lookers were astonished. Never did they hear such teaching and from someone who they knew but knew Him as a local carpenter. Even though they heard Him with their own ears, they found it hard to believe. “Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.’ They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.” (Mk.6:3 nlt) The people took offense that Jesus would elevate Himself to such a high position with no formal religious or academic training. He was on their level, a local layman, ‘how dare He raise Himself above us.’

The peoples’ reference to Him as the ‘son of Mary’ could very well have been an insult to Jesus. It could be possible that Joseph passed away, as he is not mentioned, but it may also be a shot at the legitimacy of His birth. To say that one is the son of the mother is to say we don’t know who the father is. The townspeople in their ignorance and snippy remarks missed an opportunity to get to know the Jesus they thought they knew. Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and did no miracles in Nazareth except for a few people He healed. (Mk.6:5) It was not that He couldn’t perform any miracles, but in an atmosphere of such unbelief Jesus didn’t have many opportunities as most people were offended by Him. John MacArthur notes, “Miracles belong among those who were ready to believe.” There were many who simply would not believe. It must have hurt the Lord Jesus to announce, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” (Mk.6:4 nlt)

Jesus did not let this interrupt His mission or the mission He was about to send the disciples on. Neither should we let the way we are received by those closest to us to influence whether we continue to live the Christian life. Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected by His own family for the sake of the gospel, so He knows how you feel if it happens to you. Jesus continued going from village to village reaching out to people. We shouldn’t allow anything to slow us down, but to continue with the mission He gave us.

 “And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.” (Mk.6:7 nlt) Jesus gets His disciples involved to go out on their own and preach the gospel. He has taught them as they gathered around Him. They have observed His preaching and the miracles He performed on the road, now it was time for them to get some on-the-job training. This was a big step for them, and the Lord emphasized how big a step it was in the instructions He gave them.

Jesus told them to take nothing along with them except the common walking stick in case attack. That alone calls for tremendous faith. Whatever God calls us to do requires faith on our part to be successful for the task. We shouldn’t doubt thinking we can’t do it. If the Lord is sending us out, we can do it. The disciples were also told not to take any food, no overnight bag or extra clothing, and no money. Jesus did allow them to wear sandals for their feet. The Lord Jesus was training them to increase their faith for future days when they would go out preaching the message of salvation after His death, burial, and resurrection. They were to trust God completely to meet their needs.

The disciples were instructed not to be fickle with the accommodation provided for them, but to show appreciation and stay in that one place as long as they were in that city. Jesus gave them one final important instruction, “But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” (Mk.6:11 nlt) Strict Jews in that day shook the dust off their feet whenever they left a pagan territory. Rejecting Jesus’ gospel of salvation is equal to a pagan society who rejects the only true God. Shaking off the dust is certainly in order. It also absolves them from any further responsibility after making known the manner of salvation.

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Jesus did not say following Him would be a cakewalk. There will be hard times, long roads ahead to travel, rejection even from loved ones, but it is a life of tremendous joy when following Him in obedient faith. Jesus guarantees it.

Devotionals

Daniel’s Exemplary Prayer      

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 6:1-13 NLT – Daniel in the Lions’ Den – Darius the – Bible Gateway

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem.” Daniel 6:10 NLT

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Christians struggle today as to when is it appropriate to disobey the government. What would be a legitimate reason to ignore certain laws and encourage others to do the same. I’m sorry, I’m not about to give you an approved list which enables you to defy the government, but I will give us all an example of what is right when the time is right.

The prophet Daniel lived his entire adult life in captivity. Captured as a teenager and brought to Babylon during the destruction of Jerusalem, Daniel proved to be an example of one who completely trusted and obeyed God whatever the circumstances. He never wavered, and the Lord used Daniel to work out and reveal His purposes. Now in his eighties, and still well respected by those who now held him captive, Daniel was about to put his faith and obedience on display.  

Daniel was one of the top officials in the new kingdom of Medo-Persia serving Darius the king. Darius’ favoritism of his highly regarded official brough envy among his colleagues so much they concocted a plan to get rid of him. They convinced the king to sign a law stating that “for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human— (except Darius the king)—will be thrown into the den of lions.” (Dan.6:7 nlt) They knew Daniel would not comply, seeing him three times a day praying towards Jerusalem, they got him, well, sort of.

If you’re familiar with the story of ‘Daniel in the lions’ den’ you know it has a happy ending. Daniel knew that if he obeyed the king’s law, he would be disobeying God. So, he did what he always did, he reached out to God for help in his daily prayers. Daniel had no assurance that God would deliver him, but he knew that He could, and he was not going to disobey the Lord God who had blessed him all his life. Let the same be said of us.

Bible Studies

“Just Have Faith” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 5:21-43 NLT – Jesus Heals in Response to Faith – Bible Gateway

“And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over’……But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.’” Mark 5:34, 36 NLT

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Is just having faith good enough? The phrase ‘have faith’ gets tossed around as if it’s a cure-all for what ails you. Seriously, if you are in the habit of using that phrase, what is your basis for using it? Is it hope, a feeling, something mysterious, or is it an assurance you have and if so, what is the basis for that assurance? The world defines faith as complete trust or confidence in something or somebody. I cannot disagree with that for that is what faith is. Now back to the first question. Is just having faith good enough? Well, yes, it depends on where your faith is placed. This week we have two stories were knowing where to place your faith is a matter of life or death.

After Jesus’ short stay in the Gerasenes region where He healed a demon-possessed man He headed back across the lake to Capernaum. As usual a crowd had formed rather quickly on the shore after His arrival with the help of old-fashion social media, word of mouth on foot. A synagogue official, a layman similar to deacons and elders today, was one of first people to greet him dropping to his knees and crying out, “My little daughter is dying, Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” (Mk.5:23 nlt) The official, Jarius by name, knew his daughter was near death and Jesus was her only hope. Jarius most likely heard Jesus speak in the synagogue when Jesus visited, and he knew of His miracles. Jarius placed his faith in the only one capable of healing His daughter.

Jesus agreed to go with Jarius and so did the crowds as they forced their way to get closer to Him as they traveled to Jarius’ home. In among the crowd was a woman who was severely sick with constant bleeding from an incurable disease. “She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.” (Mk.5:26 nlt) She too, like Jarius’ daughter was in a desperate situation although her death was not imminent it was certain without help from above. This woman, whose name we don’t know, was one of the many to had seen and heard about Jesus. She knew He could stop the bleeding. Her faith was so strong in Him knowing if she could only reach out to touch the hem of His garment she would be healed. And that is what she did, “Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.” (Mk.5:29 nlt) With so many people crowding around Jesus bumping into Him and touching Him, He specifically felt the power of healing faith go from Him to someone. It was an immediate healing for the woman.

Jesus then asked who touched Him. The disciples must have had a puzzled look on their faces when they answered, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” (Mk.5:31 nlt) But Jesus knew someone did and kept looking around until she came forward. Jesus didn’t pursue this to call out the woman, but to afford her the chance to praise God and tell others what God has for her. Jesus was not going to let this opportunity go by without recognizing her publicly. She had been a social outcast for so many years, and it’s time to turn the tables. Those who evade her will now see she is no longer considered to be ‘unclean’ but whole and fully healed. Jesus confirmed this by saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” (Mk.5:34 nlt)

I guess you can say in a way, it was a hope, but a hope in Jesus. It was a feeling in that she felt it instantly. It certainly felt mysterious, but it was the power of God touching her and stopping the bleeding. We can say for sure; she based her faith on Jesus, that is where she had the assurance of being healed by putting her trust and confidence in Him.

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We now go back to Jarius who has just witnessed miraculous healing before his eyes. But as they proceed to Jarius’ home, he received news that his daughter had died. In hearing this Jesus encourages Jarius by saying, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” (Mk.5:36 nlt) Jesus is reminding Jarius of the faith he had when he first approached Jesus about his daughter’s condition. There is nothing impossible for Jesus to do, even raising the dead.

Jesus suddenly stops the crowd from following Him and took with Him only Peter, James, and John the rest of the way to Jarius’ home. They were greeted by weeping and wailing as professional mourners were already called in, as was the custom, when a death occurred. Burial would soon take place in the Jewish culture as it is still practiced today. But Jesus would have no part of it. “He went inside and asked, ‘Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.’” (Mk.5:39 nlt) He knew what He was going to do as the people laughed and ridiculed Him. So, Jesus sent these people out of the house for their unbelief, and took the girl’s mother, father, and the disciples to the girl’s room.

They entered the room and, “Holding her hand, he said to her, ‘Talitha koum’ which means ‘Little girl, get up!’” (Mk.5:41 nlt) The twelve-year-old got up immediately and Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Jesus not only raised her from the dead but made sure she had something to eat. Jesus’ reference to ‘she’s only sleeping’ is used to describe her death was only temporary. He was going to raise her, and the people who laughed will know it is a true miracle because they knew she was pronounced dead and funeral arrangements were being made.

Jesus performed two miracles concerning life and death in which faith was a factor. Not in our faith itself but in having faith in the one who can perform miracles. We may not need to exercise our faith in a life-or-death manner, but if we do, or when we do, it is good to know where to place our faith. Yes, it is OK to just have faith as long as it is in Jesus Christ, God the Son.

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Devotionals

Just another day at the office

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 2:1-16 NLT – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – One night – Bible Gateway

“When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.” Daniel 2:14 NLT

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Corporate Executives in notable positions of authority are subject to an unexpected crisis happening at any time. How they deal with it unveils their character a good bit of the time. Some may panic, but most do not. Some may be quick to assign blame, rather than responding to the situation. Others respond by doing their best work while under pressure. The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament did his best work best while under pressure.

Daniel was one of the Jewish captives brought to Babylon trained to become one of king’s advisors serving in his administration. An unexpected crisis developed within the king’s entire advisory staff. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, had a terrifying dream calling his advisors to tell him the dream and then give it its meaning. The advisors who were known as his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, would not attempt to answer the king’s order without knowing first what he had dreamt. The king, perhaps wise to their previous inaccuracies and deceptions, demanded they tell him his dream first, and then interpret it. He reasoned if they could reveal his dream, then they would be able to give him its interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar demanded they follow his command and failing to do so will result in their execution. They could not fulfill the king’s command, as a result they were ordered to be put to death.

Meanwhile, back in Daniel’s office, Daniel is confronted by the commander of the king’s guard. We may question why Daniel wasn’t called with the others to interpret the king’s dream. It could have been Daniel willing kept himself away from the heathen practices of his colleagues, or perhaps he wasn’t called due to being a Hebrew, he wouldn’t have knowledge of their pagan gods. People in the Near East during those days believed that gods spoke to human beings in dreams. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. Daniel was one of the king’s men, so he was included, guilty by association.

Daniel has a remarkable reaction signifying his ability to work well under pressure when Arioch came to kill him. The Bible says, “Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, ‘Why has the king issued such a harsh decree’?” (Dan.2:14b-15a nlt) Daniel didn’t panic, not even the slightest. If he did it didn’t show. It was just another day at the office for him. What Daniel had was faith in his God who had sent him there and was with him as he worked under the pressure of being an advisor to the king of the Babylonian Empire. Daniel knew the Lord’s hand was on him come what may. He trusted God with the outcome enabling him to concentrate on his work in a professional and godly manner. A valid lesson for us to follow.   

Devotionals

Drafted into service        

Loring Schultz

“The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.” Daniel 1:5 NLT

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The last military draft in the United States occurred over fifty years ago on December 7, 1972, during the Vietnam War. America has had an all-volunteer military since that day. Men drafted back in the day and men and women serving today have the same goals to protect and serve their country. Though many things have changed over fifty years, the one constant is all who serve are put on government support for their daily needs. It is on the government’s dime recruits are trained for service and their provisions met. Once trained, military personnel are put into service in their field of specialized training.

Four young Hebrew men found themselves drafted into service not for their nation, but for the Babylonian Empire. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked the city of Jerusalem in 605 B.C., taking sacred articles from the Temple and taking captive people of royalty and those from noble families.  He then instructed to have the best and brightest of the young men trained for service in his kingdom. There were daily provisions, training in the language and culture along with astrology, astronomy, mathematics, and agriculture in this three-year training period.

The four young men were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were given new names to assimilate into the culture; Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The goal of these young men would also be to protect and serve the kingdom they are in. Being in a pagan culture, there will be great challenges to overcome, but it was the Lord who placed them there, and all four of them knew it.

Every Christian is drafted into service for the Lord. He does provide for us and our training never ends. There are challenges in living in a secular society, but just as those four young Hebrew men were placed there by God, we are placed here. May we know it and face those challenges by faith with His help.

Read: Daniel 1:1-7 NLT – Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s Court – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

How specific is your faith? Do you believe Jesus is God the Son?       

Loring Schultz

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:1, 14 NLT

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The term ‘faith’ when referencing Christianity means different things to different people. It is used in a general sense as ‘people of faith.’ Some Christians say, ‘I am a person of faith,’ ‘I have faith,’ and ‘you got to have faith,’ etc… There are more examples we can name, but the point is numerous people speak of their Christian faith in general terms.

Christians who speak specifically of their Christian faith refer to God’s saving plan of salvation. God sent His Son to die on the cross for their sins. It is by grace one is saved through ‘faith’ by accepting Christ as savior.

The keys to the game as referred to in the sports world is, God being holy can only accept a perfect, holy sacrifice in the forgiveness of sin. Another key is we must acknowledge our sin and our need to be forgiven and made right with God. We must repent and confess our sin believing that Jesus Christ is the only perfect, holy sacrifice. We must come to realize Jesus is indeed God the Son able to save us from our sin and eternal death.

World history recognizes a man named Jesus who walked the earth over 2,000 years ago. There are few people who dispute this by agreeing to the content of the historical Jesus in history books. Believing only in the historical Jesus is equivalent to saying you are a person of faith, believing only He was a man who walked the earth doing great things. If your faith carry’s you so far as to admit Jesus was sent from God but far short of believing He is God the Son, your understanding of salvation is distorted. If you think just having faith, believing there is a God, doing good deeds, and learning what you can from Jesus’ example, is enough to get by in this world and into heaven, you’re mistaken.

Jesus was not just a good man, a good teacher, a prophet, or miracle worker, He is God the Son. If Jesus was only good man, His death for the sacrifice of our sin would be meaningless. How specific is your faith? Is your faith in Jesus, God the Son, having accepted Him as your savior, or is your faith in the historical Jesus, a good man who walked the earth.

Devotionals

Reformation Day: the righteous shall live by faith

Loring Schultz

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:17 ESV

Photo by Wim van ‘t Einde on Unsplash

October 31st is recognized around the world as Halloween or ‘All Hallows’ Eve.’ The meaning of ‘hallows’ is ‘saints’ in the Christian tradition, All Saints Day is November 1st. However, Halloween today is nothing about Christian saints and I will leave it there. Today is Reformation Day, the day celebrated by Christians in recognizing Martin Luther’s ‘95 Theses’ nailed to the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door in 1517.

Martin Luther was a German monk and a professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg who became disillusioned with the error he saw in the Catholic church, particularly the selling of indulgences. He posted his ‘95 Theses’ to spark conversation and debate among his colleagues calling for reform in the Catholic church. This, however, led to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.    

Luther was convinced through the reading of Scripture that salvation was by the grace of God alone and faith alone in Jesus Christ. It was not by any merit or works on our part that contributes to salvation and entrance into heaven. This was in contradiction to what he had observed within the church. Luther was also a staunch believer that every person should have access to the Bible and be able to read it for themselves. He had translated the entire Bible into German.  

Stephen Nichols of Ligonier Ministries writes, “The real main character in Reformation Day is not Luther. It’s the Word of God. What Luther discovered as a monk is that for centuries, the true teachings of the Word of God had been hidden by century upon century of tradition. That’s what Reformation Day is about: it’s about pulling back the covers and releasing the power of the Word of God and the beauty and the truth of the gospel. That’s why we celebrate Reformation Day.” (1)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

(1) What Is Reformation Day? | Ligonier Ministries